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Travel Tuesday Top 10: My Miles, Points and General Travel Wishlist for 2013

December 25, 2012

It has been quite a year for the points and miles world, with lots of juicy credit card and mileage bonuses (and not one, but two American Airlines double EQM promos!). I’m still not sure whether I’ve been naughty or nice this year (I have been cheating hardcore on my long-term fling with Delta), but [...]

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Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Discontinuing Companion Ticket Benefit in 2013

December 20, 2012

In my post earlier this week ranking the top American Express travel credit cards, I included the fact that the Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card gives cardholders a $99 annual companion ticket (for L,U,T fares) benefit. However, as of January 25, 2013, this benefit will be discontinued on this particular card. Like several other airline [...]

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Travel Tuesday Top 10: Ways to Redeem Delta SkyMiles

December 18, 2012

If my predictions about changes to Delta’s SkyMiles program in 2013 come true, it’s time to start putting those miles to use on award tickets before it’s too late. Luckily, by taking advantage of some of the lesser-known redemptions (and not necessarily what Delta.com shows you), SkyMiles can be pretty valuable, and there are plenty [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: When Does Airline Elite Status Start and End?

December 16, 2012

TPG reader Spencer asks: “I’ll move up from Delta Medallion Silver to Gold next year… but will I still be a Silver for flights in January and February or will my level up be recognized as soon as the new year hits? My Silver status says it’s valid through February 2013.” Elite status qualification and [...]

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Saturday Recap: 500 Southwest Rapid Rewards, 100 Free TrueBlue Points, 40% Discount at W Hotel Store, Hilton Hotels Holiday Discounts, Bonus SkyMiles for Bose Headphones

December 15, 2012

Here’s a recap of the interesting points and miles news from this week: 500 Bonus Southwest Points: If you have a Southwest credit card like the personal or business Rapid Rewards Premier cards you can earn 500 bonus points when you make a purchase with it through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal by December 31, [...]

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Delta to Purchase 49% Stake in Virgin Atlantic, SkyTeam Addition Imminent?

December 11, 2012

The NY Times reported today that Delta is going to acquire a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, acquiring Singapore Airlines’ stake that they’ve long been trying to sell due to dismal returns. Apparently, Delta and Sinagpore found a price that works for both of them – $360 million, which is a huge loss for Singapore [...]

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Last-Minute MQM Ideas for Delta Medallion Qualification

December 10, 2012

Over the course of this week, I’ll be going through ideas on how you can score some last-minute elite-qualifying miles on the US legacy carriers to put you over the edge for elite status qualification before the end of the year. Posts so far include Last-Minute Elite Status Qualification Ideas for American Flyers, Last-Minute United [...]

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Sunday Reader Question: Does It Make Sense to Pay to Transfer Delta Miles?

December 9, 2012

TPG reader Dennis asks: “My parents each have 13,000 Delta SkyMiles and want to transfer them to me. Since they don’t fly Delta very often, is it worth it to pay the $130 each, $260 total for them to transfer them to my account?   I just made Gold this year without any of the cards. [...]

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Saturday Recap: American Express British Airways Transfer Bonus, Bonus SkyMiles from Hertz, Bonus Miles with Wine Clubs, 1,000 Free United Miles, Update on Hyatt Platinum Extras

December 8, 2012

Here’s a recap of the interesting points and miles news from this week: American Express 30% Transfer Bonus to British Airways: In case you missed the post from earlier this week, now through January 14, 2013, American Express cardmembers who transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to British Airways Avios  will receive a 30% bonus. The bonus [...]

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Delta SkyClub Passes 4 for $99

December 6, 2012

From now through December 31, 2012, Delta is selling packets of 4 SkyClub passes for $99. SkyClub passes normally cost $50 each, so this is just under half price and works out to $24.50 each. If you don’t have a credit card that offers you access to Delta lounges such as the Amex Platinum or [...]

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Cheap Flights to Moscow: From $357 TOTAL Roundtrip from Baltimore, NY from $452

December 4, 2012

Delta and their SkyTeam partners are running some incredible fares to Russia. There are plenty of dates Baltimore to Moscow (via JFK) on Delta for $357.84 total roundtrip, including all taxes and fees! The trip nets 10,322 Medallion Qualifying Miles, or just about 3.5 cents a piece, which is definitely mileage run worthy. However, Russia [...]

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My 8 Predictions If a 2013 Delta SkyMiles Devaluation Happens

November 29, 2012

I always say that frequent flyer miles generally lose value over time (as programs raise award levels and start levying new fees and taxes) and that hoarding them is a bad long-term strategy. I do understand why people hold onto miles for a long time – we often get caught in the mouse wheel of [...]

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Delta Selling Discounted Upgrades to First Class

November 27, 2012

While the holidays may be a busy travel season for many leisure travelers, in many industries its a slow time and business travel drops off drastically. This means airlines are facing packed and oversold coach cabins and emptier than normal business/first class cabins. What would the logical solution be? Try to sell more first class [...]

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Buy Delta Elite Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) Until December 31

November 15, 2012

Now through December 31, 2012, Delta is selling Medallion Qualifying Miles. You may buy up to 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that will post to your 2012 MQM balance and apply toward 2013 Medallion status (2012 qualification) and should post to your SkyMiles account within 24 hours. The prices for the MQM’s are: 2,500 MQMs for $395 5,000 MQMs for $595 [...]

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Video Sunday Reader Question: How To Avoid Hitting Diamond So I Can Rollover Delta Miles

November 11, 2012

This interesting question about elite status – which is on a lot of people’s minds this time of year – comes from TPG reader Sarah: “As the end of the year approaches I know most people are striving to make it to the next elite tier. I have the opposite issue. I miscalculated my flights through [...]

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Delta Unveils New Delta.com Design and Features

November 10, 2012

Early this morning, Delta launched a new, refreshed version of their website. While any change is annoying at first, I do think the overall look is sharp and there is a huge focus on social media. While thats all great, I really wish they would have put the same time and energy into fixing their [...]

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Saturday Recap: Bonus AAdvantage Miles with Avis, W Hotels Store Discount, United Upgrade Enhancements, American Airlines Flight Discount

November 10, 2012

Here’s a recap of the interesting points and miles news from this week: Bonus American AAdvantage Miles with Avis: Now through December 31, 2012, American and Avis have teamed up to offer customers 250 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles per day on their next Avis rental up to 1,000 miles per rental. This offer is [...]

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Delta Medallion Qualifying Mile Sale Promo In the Works

November 8, 2012

The end of the year can be a very stressful time for flyers who are scrambling to hit elite status qualification before the counters reset on January 1. Historically, the only way to get elite miles was to fly, but lately there have been a number of new ways to rack up elite status, including [...]

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Lie-Flat Business Class Seats Coming to Delta Transcontinental Flights

November 6, 2012

Perhaps it’s playing catch-up in anticipation of American’s new fleet of aircraft with lie-flat beds in first and business on transcontinental routes, but Delta announced it plans to begin operating Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft with a full BusinessElite seat overhaul on all flights between New York and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle out [...]

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Delta Launches Nonstop NYC Promotion

November 5, 2012

Delta launched a contest today called Delta Nonstop NYC where you have the opportunity to win a trip for two on a chartered Delta flight from NYC to LAX. Its pretty simple to enter and there are three ways to win: 1)  instant win scavenger hunts (Find the Red Coat), 2) weekly games and contests (Missions), [...]

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1,500 MQM’s or 2 Free Months With Delta Sky Club Membership

November 2, 2012

Delta has launched a Delta Sky Club holiday promotion where Medallion members offering an additional two months of Sky Club membership for free or 1,500 Medallion Qualifying Miles when they purchase or renew a one- or three-year club membership by December 31, 2012. To get the additional 2 months free, use the promo code SC2MO. [...]

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Maximizing the Newest Business and First Class Products on US Airlines

October 31, 2012

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that recently I was disaapointed with getting the old British Airways first class (#firstclassproblems, I know). While it wasn’t the end of the world, it made me think that getting the “old” product was a much worse deal than “new” first class, which is the same price, [...]

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Consolidated List of Hurricane Sandy Flight Refund and Change Policies

October 28, 2012

The East Coast is battening the hatches as Hurricane Sandy bears down on it, and airlines have already issued travel advisories and cancellation/refund policies. The bad news is that 900 flights have been cancelled up and down the East Coast today already, and airlines expect that over 2,500 will be cancelled for Monday. The good [...]

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(Video) Sunday Reader Question: Should I Redeem Amex Points for Travelers Cheques?

October 28, 2012

This week TPG reader Steven asks for advice on how best to redeem his American Express Membership Rewards points: “I currently have about 110,000 points in Amex. I am deciding between paying for a trip to Orlando with points or getting Amex Travelers Cheques. What is the best option, or are their other options that [...]

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